Laserfiche WebLink
<br />City Council Study Session - 08/15/05 <br />Minutes - Page 15 <br /> <br />Ernie Willenbring, 832 Lovell Avenue <br />Mr. Willenbring passionately addressed the City's continuing <br />Buckthorn problem and needed and improved eradication efforts, <br />specifically in the City's park systern. Mr. Willenbring noted <br />that some vistas at HANC were totally blocked by buckthorn and <br />encouraged Councilmembers to seek additional information or <br />tours of affected areas. <br /> <br />Mr. Willenbring requested that the City Council consider <br />funding in upcoming budgets for buckthorn eradication. <br /> <br />Bob Meyer, President of FORHANC <br />Mr. Meyer expressed his appreciation to the City Council for <br />allowing the FORHANC Board to attempt additional <br />fundraising; and presented an additional $1,000 check and <br />provided marketing materials for the upcoming all-day Wild <br />Rice Festival fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, September 10, <br />2005, from 7:30 a.rn. through 5:00 p.rn. <br /> <br />7. <br /> <br />Discuss Diseased Tree Program <br />Parks and Recreation Director Lonnie Brokke reviewed the <br />background of the diseased and hazardous tree removal program <br />maintained by the City's Parks and Recreation Department <br />through the hiring of one part-time seasonal forestry technician <br />from April through October, with the majority of the work <br />contracted out and through joint efforts with the Public Works <br />staff. <br /> <br />Mr. Brokke provided statIstIcs for 2004 and 2005 to-date <br />regarding budgeted funds; work completed; and number of <br />contacts made for the prograrn. Mr. Brokke reviewed program <br />specifics including, identification and marking of damaged <br />and/or diseased trees; education and information to property <br />owners; managing storm damage; street tree plan maintenance; <br />tree nursery establishment at the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum; park <br />reforestation plan; and grant application monitoring. <br />Mr. Brokke noted that the street tree plan needed to be updated; <br />current maintenance was limited and as time allowed for <br />pruning, thinning and damage clean up; additional work was <br />needed for prevention, new planting care and buckthorn <br />eradication. Mr. Brokke noted that a number of residents were <br /> <br />Diseased Tree <br />Program <br />